Spring-roller for screens, curtains, or awnings.



EATENTED JUNE 14, 1904.l

E. A. MANSELL. SPRING ROLLER POR SCREENS, CURTAINS, 0R AWNINGS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 2 0, 1903.

N MODEL.

` provements in Spring-Rollers for Screens,v

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FoRDADDIs'oN MANs'ELL, or TORONTO, CANADA.

ASRR!'Nei-ROLLER FOR SCREENS, CURTAINS, OR AWNINGS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 762,330, dated June' 14, 1904;

Appncation ned November "20,19053. semina 181,939. Numdam To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that LFORD ADDISON MANsELL, merchant, asubject of the King of Great Britain, residing in the city of rforonto, in the county of York and Province of Ontario, Canada, have made certain new and useful Im- Curtains, or Awnings, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in spring-rollers for screens, curtains,'and awnings; and the objects,V of 4my invention are, first, to design -a` spring-roller for the purpose of winding wire-netting or canvas and, secondly, to distribute the torque of the spiral springs so that all parts of the roller will be revolved as nearly as possible at the same speed, thus preventing any straining of same and insuring the material being wound evenly thereon; audit consists, essentially, of a spindle, surrounding which is a spiral spring, secured thereto at one of its eXtreme ends, a casing inclosing said spiral spring and spindle, to which the other end of said spiral spring is secured, Vthe coils of said spiral spring resting against the said casing, so as not to come in contact with the spindle while the spring is at rest, the partly-contracted coils being held clear of the spindle by means of the support given them when in the rest position.

By the term rest as herein used I refer to that state of tension which the spring is under when the shade is drawn up.

A Figure 1 is a general perspective view of Ymy roller. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section on the line a b, Fig. l. rFhis figure also shows the means used for increasing the tension of the spiral spring. Fig. 3 is likewise a longitudinal section on the line a o, Fig. l, showing part of the spiral spring under tension. Fig. 4 is a vertical cross-section on the line c d, Fig. 2, looking in the direction indicated by arrow. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal vertical section showing an alternative form of springroller. Fig. 6 1s an enlarged end view of Fig. 5 looklngin the direction indicated by arrow.

Fig. 7 is a cross-section through the roller, showing the wire-netting or canvas wound thereon. Fig. 8 is an enlarged cross-section through the casing and spindle, showing the spring allowed transverse play.

In the drawings like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in each figure.

A is any suitable cylindrical casing, preferably made of metal, in which is mounted a spindle B. In mounting the spindle within the casing accordingto the construction shown in the drawings I use two disks C and D and suitably secure them to said casing, as by soldering or other desired means, in which disks are held said spindle. Upon the said spindle and adjacent the inner sides of the said disks I provide suitable fianges L, so as to prevent longitudinal movement of said spindle. By any means, the preferred forms of which will be hereinafter described, the spindle is prevented from rotating while the casing Aturns round same. Surrounding the said spindle is a spiral spring E, one end, c, of which is suitably secured to the spindle and the other end, d, of which is suitably secured to the casing A, which incases both spiral spring and spindle. Upon referring to the drawings it will be noticed that the spiral spring while at rest does not touch the spindle B except at the pointe. I preferably mount the spindle within the casing A so that `it may have a common longitudinal axis therewith. Although I preferably make the coils of the spiral spring of such size as to fit the whole of the inside of the casing A, this is not absolutely necessary, provided the transverse play allowed the spring within said casing is not enough to permit the coils to come in contact with the spindle while at rest, the partly-contracted coils of the spring being held clear of the spindle at this time by reason of the support given them when under this tension. The complete contraction of the coils always commences at the end d of the spring secured to the spindle. Keeping the coils of the spiral spring clear of the spindle prevents any tendency of the spiral spring to bind thereon except at one of its extreme ends,

where it is secured thereto. As will be seen from the drawings, I preferably form a slot c in one end of the casing and pass the end Z of the spiral spring therethrough and secure said end to the outside thereof and as near as possible at right angles to the spindle B, as shown clearly in the drawings. The end e of said spiral spring is also secured as near as possible at right angles to said spindle. By securing the end c of the spiral spring to the spindle in the direct manner described I compel the spiral spring from this end, immediately the coils begin to contract, to grip the spindle B. My object is to compel the spiral Spring to start to wind round the spindle from its end e, as is clearly shown at F in Fig. 3.

It is to be observed that when the casing is revolved the contraction of the spring commences at its end (Z and gradually travels along to the other end or end @of the spring, where the coils are first completely contracted around the spindle. This complete contraction then follows along, as shown in Fig. 5, until the whole of the spring is contracted around the spindle, the coils at the end (l of the spring being the last to be completely contracted.

It will of course be understood that the diameter of the spindle B is large enough to prevent the destruction of the elasticity of the spiral spring when it is wound thereon. When the casing is being' rotated in the direction indicated by arrow without tail, by the pulling down of the canvas 16 from full lines in Fig. 8 to dotted position it moves the end Z of the spring round with it and gradually causes the coils of the spiral spring to contract at this point, each contraction, by means ofthe other coils, being carried to the end c of the spring, where the coils rst completely contract around the spindle, and thus work toward the end CZ of the spring. The coils near the end Z are held out of contact with the spindle B until the whole spiral spring is wound thereon. Immediately the wire-netting or canvas is released the energy stored in the spiral spring winds the material round the roller until the said spiral spring resumes the position shown in Figs. 2, t, and 5, thus returning the canvas back to position shown in full lines in Fig. 7. rIhe end f of the roller is preferably made square and fits within a correspondinglyshaped nipple Gr, secured to the toothed wheel H, which meshes with a toothed wheel I, provided with a spring-controlled pawl J, which is suitably pivoted to a plate K. Secured to the plate K and inclosing said wheels is a easing L. rIhe nipple rf of the wheel I and the nipple Gr have bearing in the casing L and plate K.-

VVhen it is desired to increase the tension on. the spiral spring IC, the wheel I is moved in the direction indicated by arrow with tail, thus vthrough the wheel H revolving the spindle B in the direction shown by arrow with tail.

During the operation just described it will of course be understood that the casing A must be held stationary. Fitting within the end /z of the casing is a casing j, in the ends of which has bearing a rod M, to which is secured a pin m, which, by means of the slots n and o, formed, respectively, in the easing A and the casing j, projects through said casings and rests' in position to be moved by hand. Upon the rod M and between the pin m and the inner end of the casing j' is held any suitable spring O, which maintains the rod M in the position shown in the drawings. When it is desired to place the roller in position in its bearings or remove it therefrom, the pin m is moved in the direction indicated by arrow. When the roller is placed in position, the rod M is forced by its spring O to engage with its bearing in the plate P.

I do not confine myself to using the springcontrolled rod M in connection with my roller; neither do I confine myself to any particular means for increasing the tension of the spring E; -nor do I confine myself to any particular way of mounting the spindle within the casing. Both ends of the spindle must be held in suitable bearings within the casing.

In order to enable my roller to maintain the wire screen or awning at any desired height, I may provide same with a well-known pawl and ratchet, described as follows: Referring to Figs. 5 and 6, loosely pivoted to the disk D are two pawls 7 and 8, which engage with the ratchet 9, secured to said spindle. It will of course be understood that the action of the pawls 7 and 8 will enable the roller to keep the awning or wire screen at the desired height. When I do not use the spring-controlled rod M, I secure a suitable disk 10 in the casing A and by means of its round nipple 11 mount said casing in any suitable bracket. `The end 12 of the spindle s hown in Fig. 5 is preferably formed square or rectangular.

In case a heavy awning or wire-netting should be used I increaseI the strength of my roller by increasing the number of springs used. Upon referring to Fig. 5 it will be noticed that I have secured two spiral springs 13 and 14 to the spindle B and casing A in the same manner as before described, except that in this case the ends d of the said springs are connected to said casing midway its length and the ends @of said springs are secured one at each end of the spindle B. It will be seen from this drawing that the spiral springs are so coiled that they will both wind up and unwind together. By so using two springs on one roller it will be understood that the energy stored in the spiral springs will be directly applied to both ends of the roller when IIO the wire-netting or awning is being wound up. It has been found that in case a roller is very long and only one spring used in the same there is a tendencyon the part of the casing (especially when heavy awning or Wirenetting is used) to which the force of the wound spring is applied to start to turn before the rest of the casing. The construction as shown in Fig. 5 is desired for use in long awning-rollers that may be, for instance, say, from fteen feet up in length. In such long rollers (especially when the casing is made light in order to economize in cost of manufacture) the tendency of a single spring is to act as described, which is overcome by the use of two springs. This method of construction enables me to distribute the torque of the spiral springs so as to give uniform movement to the roller and prevent any tendency to strain the roller. As the roller shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 8 is not provided with any device by which the curtain may be held in any intermediate position, it will be understood that the curtain or awning wrapped thereon will have to be tied down in order to be kept in the required position. When the wheels H and I have been operated in order to increase the tension of the spring E, it will be understood that the tying down of the curtain will prevent the spring from losing the tension given thereto. As will be seen from Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 5, my preferred form of invention is to use a spiral spring the coils of which will wholly fit against the inner surface of the casing.

I hereby claim that I may make such changes and alterations in the construction of my spring-roller that will not depart from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim as my invention is- 1. A spring-roller comprising a cylindrical casing, a spindle longitudinally mounted therein, and a coil-spring surrounding said spindle, with one of its ends secured to the spindle at approximately right angles to the axis of the spindle, and the other end of said spring secured to the casing at approximately right angles to the axis of said casing,'the coils of the spring being entirely free from contact with the spindle when in the relaxed position and contacting with the casing, and when in their completely-contracted position contacting with the spindle and with each other, and 'being free from contact with the casing, and said coils when in the relaxed and completely-contracted positions each being in a plane at approximately right angles to the axis of the spindle and casing.

2. A spring-roller comprisinga cylindrical casing, two disks mounted and suitably secured in said casing, a spindle mounted for rotatable movement in the disks, means carried by the spindle for engagement with the disks to hold the spindle against longitudinal movement, a coil-spring su rrounding the spindle withl one end secured thereto at approximately right angles to the axis of the spindle and the other end secured to the casing at approximately right angles to the axis of the said casing, the several coils of said spring lying at all times in a plane approximately at right angles to the axis of the spindle, and when in the relaxed position being free from contact with the spindle and in engagement with the casing, and when in the completelycontracted position being wound tightly on the spindle and contacting with each other.

'3. A spring-roller comprising a cylindrical casing, two disks mounted and suitably secured in said casing, a spindle mounted for rotatable movement in the disks, means carried by the Spindle for engagement with the disks to hold the spindle against longitudinal movement, a coil-spring surrounding the spindle with one end secured thereto at approximately right angles to the axis of the spindle and the other end secured to the casing at approximately right angles to the axis of the said casing, the several coils of said spring lying at all times in a plane approximately at right angles to the axis of the spindle and when in the relaxed position being free from contact with the spindle and in engagement with the casing, and when in the completelycontracted position being wound tightly on the spindle and contacting with each other, and said spring when under contacting tension having the coils completely contracted successively from the end fastened to the spindle to the opposite end of the spring.

4. A spring-roller comprising a casing, a spindle longitudinally mounted therein for rotatable movement and held against longitudinal movement, two coil-springs surrounding the spindle with one end of each secured thereto at approximately right angles to the axis of the spindle and the other end of each secured to the casing at approximately right angles to the axis of the casing, the several coils of the spring lying at all times in a plane approximately at right angles to the axis of the spindle and casing, and when in the relaxed position free from contact with the spindle and in engagement with the casing, and when in the completely-contracted position being wound tightly on the spindle, contacting with each other and being free from engagement with the casing.

5. A spring-roller comprisinga cylindrical casing, a spindle mounted for rotatable movement in the casing and held against longitudinal movement, a coil-spring surrounding the spindle with one end secured thereto at approximately right angles to the axis of the spindle and its other end secured to the casing at approximately right angles to the axis of IOO IIO

the spindle and easing, the several coils of said spi-ing being at all times in a plane approximately at right angles to the axis of the spinelle and easing, and when in the relaxed posi- 5 tion being free from Contact with the spindle and in Contact with the casing, and when in the Completely-contracted position being free from contact with the casing and wound tightly on the spindle and completely covering said IO spindle from the point of attachment of the spring thereto to the point of its attachment to the easing.

In testimony whereo'I have signed my name to this application in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

FORD ADDISON MANSELL.

Witnesses:

W. R. BLACKHALL, EGERTCN R. CASE. 

